Saudi Arabia eases travel restrictions for Pakistani pilgrims

Riyadh: While Pakistan achieved another milestone in the fight against coronavirus by vaccinating over two million people in a day, Saudi Arabia has lifted travel restrictions for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims by amending the Covid-19 criteria.

According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, all Umrah pilgrims must submit a negative PCR test report taken no more than 48 hours before arrival.

The new directives apply to all travelers no matter what their vaccination status. This comes into effect next Wednesday.

Intending pilgrims have to show they are vaccinated using the Tawakkalna app to enter the Grand Mosque in Makkah and Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Earlier, the ministry made an announcement that there is no plan to ban Umrah but precautionary measures will be enforced. Action will be taken against those who neglect SOPs.

On January 5, the Saudi government has imposed a ten-day waiting period between two Umrahs.

Wearing masks and maintaining social distance is mandatory for worshipers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina.

Pilgrims who have had both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will be exempt from quarantine, but single-dose pilgrims have to stay in quarantine for five days.

People who do not need to undertake quarantine are those who are completely vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer, Moderna, BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Covishield, SK, Bioscience or one dose of Johnson & Johnson.